DOJ Releases Guidelines for Corporate Compliance Programs

Is Japan Prepared?

Forensic & Litigation Consulting

April 6, 2017

Japanese companies with interests in the United States are continuing to face increased regulatory scrutiny from the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) on a number of fronts, including most notably on issues related to anti-corruption and anti-trust.

As of 16 February 2017, almost half (60 out of 138) of Sherman Anti-Trust Act violations resulting in a corporate fine of USD$10 million or more have been committed by Japanese companies.1

According to the DOJ the sector in which Japanese companies face the most issues is the automobile parts industry.2

In July 2016 a Japanese automotive body sealing product manufacturer was fined USD$130 million for conspiring to fix prices and rig bids.3

In November 2016, an unlisted automobile parts manufacturer pleaded guilty and paid a USD$7.2 million criminal fine for its role in a price-fixing conspiracy involving automotive steel tubes sold to automobile manufacturers in the United States.4